‘Motherhood is lonely?’ I hear you ask. Yes, when you become a mum you have children to depend on you, buddies following you around, littles talking to and at you every second of the day… But don’t be fooled. Yes you have companions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year forevermore, but what no one quite tells you is how deep that feeling of loneliness can feel and the isolation.

Last year we welcomed three new babies into the family, my sister and two sister-in-laws became first time mums. My sister, having spent her career as a Nanny looking after over 40 children in total, had a somewhat glimpse into what motherhood would bring, but even so, would totally hold her hands up and agree that it is lonely. When you spend the first few months in ‘shock’ about how tired you REALLY actually are, and how sleep-deprived you’ve become, reality hits home and for most, everything you expected or had imagined was nothing compared to this.

If you ever thought being a mum was all chats in coffee shops (sometimes), making tens of mummy friends, fun in the sun, happy kids, happy mum, you’re in for a shock;

The days are LONG

Think about the amount of hours in the day you have to fill. That’s a shit lot of time. The aim of the game is to get to the end of the day having kept yourself and your dependants alive!

You will talk to yourself- a lot.

You know those women you see in the park mumbling while their kid is in the swing, or the mum talking about dinner to the packet of pasta she’s picked off the shelf in the supermarket…. That’s YOU. Don’t judge. Face facts, we all go mad. It’s a given.

Draw strength from your husband/ partner.

If you’re in a relationship/ partnership or marriage, remember you’re a team. As tired as you are by the end of the day, you can draw strength and support from each other. Make the most of quality time when the children are tucked up in bed.

You have to MAKE AN EFFORT to make friends.

A friend of mine having just had her second child, was feeling at the end of her tether so I suggested she go out and find some baby groups (you automatically become a little slacker on your second) to mingle with other mums. Her response was hilarious “I don’t want to make new friends, I can’t be bothered”. I TOTALLY get it!…BUT you will go stir crazy if you don’t. The loneliness is not worth it. It may appear that women are all clicky with each other at those baby groups, and you feel intimidated by them, but trust me, they were you before they plucked up the courage to say ‘hi’. They too probably had a cry that morning over spilt milk. They too probably threatened divorce ten times over that week. They too need some company to fill in those hours in the day.

You have to drag yourself out of the house.

Sorry, but there’s only so much Jeremy Kyle you can watch. Yes there’s a mass of laundry that has been building up for a couple of days which your husband might roll his eyes at and wonder what the hell you’ve done with your day, but GET OUT THE HOUSE. Fresh air is key and will help keep you sane. Even if you’ve not had time to get dressed. Throw your trainers on and a big coat over your jim-jams and you’re set. Screw the people with no kids staring at you in the street, you’re a superwoman….you pushed a baby out your vagina!

You have to VALUE YOUR SLEEP (what little of it you get).

Being sleep deprived is a killer. To both yourself and everyone around you. Harry is 7 and Stan is 2 and trust me it doesn’t get any easier (sorry, not sorry). The only time you will EVER get some good sleep is when they’ve moved out. Actually no, even when they’ve moved out you’ll have sleepness nights worried about them on the night bus home, falling out of the student union or off travelling the world. Sorry ladies, there’s no going back! When your hidden are old enough to go to friend’s houses for sleepovers, DON’T have a night on the tiles. GO TO BED!

You have to remember to eat.

Such an obvious thing, but believe me, it’s easy to forget/ eat crap/ not drink enough water and not look after yourself. You’re doing an amazing job feeding your baby, but what good are you if you’re lacking energy or brain power?

You have to keep those that you love close.

The people already in your life still very much want to be a part of your life. They know you for YOU and it’s so important to not lose touch of who YOU are. When you become a parent, so much changes. The ones that love you from your single days, your married days, your baby days and your current days will provide so much relief when you don’t even think you need it. Call on them when you’re feeling low, anxious or lost and their love will help you grow.

You have to have something for yourself.

Having hobbies and interests are totally what keep me SANE. I love spending time with my boys and family time at weekends but having something to distract me and take me out of my ‘mummy zone’ even if it’s for half an hour is such a breath of fresh air! I love painting and being creative- it’s not something I can do when the kids are around me because obviously they want to join in. But my time is MY time and finding space in this foggy brain to think about something other than school run, making beds, running baths and the dreaded bedtime is a rarity!

You have to talk to adults.

When it’s so normal to have ‘Heads, shoulders, knees and toes’ running through your head or your vocabulary stretching as far as ‘5 little ducks went bloody swimming all day’, adult conversation doesn’t come too easily. We’re used to conversating with humans that are still learning to TALK! Find an adult to talk to! Even if you do only talk about each other’s kids (because that’s the only chat we have huh?!).

While becoming a mother is the most gratifying, rewarding and fulfilling job, nothing can prepare you for those days that you feel lonely. It’s totally normal and don’t feel bad or sad for feeling alone. We’re all in this TOGETHER.

Valentine’s Day… Is it that time of year again? With Christmas all cleared up, packed away and the tune of ‘jingle bells’ finally out of our heads, the shop shelves are now stocking with all things ‘LOVE’! For all the heartbroken and singles out there, it really does feel as though it’s shoved in your face; the flowers, the cards, the perfume, the boxes of chocolates. On average, apparently men spend roughly £40 on a Valentine’s gift compared to women who spend on average £24. And get this… the total amount of money spent on flowers for this particular day is a whopping £300 million!

Tye and I typically exchange a card and I usually get flowers bought for me from Wild at Heart, near my house. Tye calls them ‘meadow’ flowers because they’re beautiful and wild looking. I’m a bit slack on getting him a gift because his birthday is 3 days later!

Ive handpicked a few gifts to give you a little nudge and some ideas if you’ve not quite thought about it yet. Gift giving for Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be just for your husband, wife or partner. It could be for your children, best friend, grandma, godparent etc. We all have many special people in our lives who we care for and love very much. If like me you’re a little strapped for cash, a homemade card goes down a TREAT 😉

FOR HER

This gorgeous Sarah Baily wallet is YUMMY. I’ve had my eye on these for a while now, so this is a secret nod to my husband! Two of my favourite things in life: Cow hide and metallic leather! What’s not to love? They come in a variety of colour options and if you think your other half’s budget will stretch, then why not go all out and ask for one of the bags!! Click here for the website.

Who loves a bit of ‘Twinning’? One of my fav new brands is Scamp and Dude (previous post about them here), who do some really fun childrenswear pieces, but also these fabulous sweaters for us women too! So you and your littles can match in your leopard prints. Click here for the website.

A scented candle goes down sooooo well in my family. This M&S Per Una one smells FAB and will really get your home smelling lurrrrrrvly. Click here for the website.

If you’re in need of a new addition to your wardrobe, or even looking for a new little something to wear on date night, this Zara blouse is gorge! This bird printed top with pretty bow detail on the sleeves is only £29.99 and looks brilliant on any shape because the stripes run vertically! Click here for the website.

FOR HIM

Did you pull out the ‘socks and jumper’ card AGAIN this Christmas for the man in your life? Well I certainly did…with a few Ferrera Roche’s thrown in for good measure 😉 With a love for Retro design, the very British brand GPO have a selection of nostalgic old fashioned telephones and radios. I particularly love this state of the art Memphis Digital Radio. Not only is it a radio but it also allows you to record all of your vinyl records and cd’s onto your USB stick! The perfect Valentine’s present for the gadget man. Click here for website.

Now this is a game to get everyone talking and I mean literally, among a group of friends/ family. Covering topics such as Sex, Money, Relationships, Work and Family, ‘The Confessions Game’ is for the REALISTS. I’ve just discovered this company The School of Life and they seem to have some very thought provoking tools and products to help develop emotional intelligence. Click here to view website.

FOR THE KIDS

I recently discovered Zoofold at a Christmas Fair last year. These impressive cardboard masks are such fun, whether worn on your head or even hung on the wall. Simple but so effective…all you need is a steady hand to assemble! Click here for website.

Pucker up with this helium balloon. From my favourite party suppliers Pretty Little Party Shop, this party accessory will provide lots of fun. Click here for website.

Look at these gorgeous Girl Gang sweaters by Essex Mama. This new limited edition heart patch is on long sleeved tees as well as the sweatshirts. For both kids and adults… I LOVE THEM! Click here for website.

For all you sticker fans (not just the kids!), if you don’t already know about Pipsticks, then check them out now. Based in the US (YES they ship internationally…whoohooooo!), this sticker loving brand create the best sticker packs which you can purchase as a one-off buy OR even better, subscribe to a monthly surprise delivery! I favour the latter of course. This Valentine’s Day selection looks pretty awesome. Click here for website.

AND FINALLY….

If you’re looking to give more of a personalised gift this year, then why not order one of my customised watercolour Wreath Art Paintings. Totally made to order and designed to your specifications, they are A4 on acid free quality watercolour paper and mounted for only £18.50. You can find them on Instagram @wreathArtbyLaura or Facebook HERE. Below are some examples of previous orders.

I’m sitting at my desk, just had my ‘low in fat’ noodle salad and had a message to remind me, ‘Have you written a blog’?

My sister, Laura, is the creator of this magical place and us sisters have been invited to take part! I’m not great at writing as generally I keep things to myself, I’m not a huge fan of diaries either so as I type I’m feeling some what exposed! I was the youngest to start my family at the age of 18. I’m now 26 and a proud mummy to two beautiful children.

I’ve always said that women are never ‘ready’ for children, even if you are married, paying a mortgage and have travelled the world, children are still an adjustment to us all. I’d booked a trip with my sister Lucy to Thailand, I was excited but also worried about the ‘bugs’ and the ‘BnB’s’. You could say I’m the sibling that prefers the finer things, I’m very tidy and organised and have a slight OCD in the home. Laura and Lucy geared me up for the trip with photos and crazy stories of their experiences, there was no turning back. A few weeks before the trip I went to my GP Appointment for my jab only to discover that I couldn’t have my jab as I was carrying a baby! Lucy and I still went to Thailand for a relaxing two weeks whilst my new life journey sank in.

At the time I was working a temp role as an admin assistant, I started at 08.30 and didn’t finish till 18.30, it was a long and demanding day but it soon came to the last day and I signed off on maternity. It was only two weeks later that I had my son and a few years later along came his sister! My journey has been a complicated one, an emotional rollercoaster that my family have travelled with me. Like all families the dynamics are drastic but when s**t hits, those dynamics fill every part of ‘what you need’.

I became a single mum when my daughter was 9 months old, my son was 3. I’ve always had faith and my prayers were to simply show me what my next journey was and a little bit of why do I have to have this journey? I remember an image that was sent to me, ‘God gives the strongest people the hardest challenges’.

Holding ‘single-motherhood’ by its mighty horns I powered on to raise my beautiful children.

I hadn’t returned to work since I signed off on maternity when I was 18, I had also not made that call to say, ‘Sorry I wont be coming back’. With my tail between my legs I called back my employer and had the wonderful conversation of, ‘Remmeber me? Oh yes, I’m free to come back now…3years late’. My daughter was 10 months old, I bought a £100 dress from Zara (with the intention of possibly taking it back) and went off for my job interview. Totally mummy brained I walked into the head office, sat around a boardroom table and was interviewed by 6 staff members in fancy suits. I felt totally out of my comfort zone but was so desperate to secure a job for financial reasons but also to keep my mind busy from the mess that was life at the time.

I got the job, kept the dress and started a week later. Granny stepped on board and helped take care of the children, everything fell into place, I was doing it. I remember reading an article, ‘How to re-adjust your life for single parenthood’ (not quite sure what I was googling) and was reading about tips to keep our new routine as mangeable as possible. ‘Always get your childrens clothes out for the next day, put their shoes beside them and put any bags by the door’….I still do it. Our life became slightly clockwork (a total mess behind closed doors). Granny would always let the children nap at around 4pm and so after returning from work we had lovely (scarcasim) evenings of entertaining and crying before we went to bed to start a new day. The children slept in bed with me, we had a kingsize bed but we still slept with arms and legs all over the place. We have been so lucky throughout our journey as 3. At the time we were living in a property that a friend had kindly rented to us at an affordable price. It was beautiful and BIG, close to my family and was safe for us to be alone. It was quite a fancy area and often felt people looking, I’m sure they wondered what my story was. I look young and at that point in my life looked about 16. Powering the kids to and from the car in my heels and black Zara dress I was a myserty to everyone and was often asked, ‘Are you the Nanny?’. Our time was up and it was time to move home. It wasn’t until we had to move that we had to adjust to change again, this was my chance to fully go at it alone. No more safety nets. I was scared, googling ‘2 bed flat to rent in West London’ is enough to make anyone scared. We had no deposit to move and were faced with life becoming very real.

Within a couple of weeks I had found me and the children a lovely little home. We moved to a one bedroom flat. We sold EVERYTHING bar the kids bunkbeds, boxed up our bits and moved in. The children had the bedroom and I had the lounge. I slept on a sofa bed and had my clothes in a wardrobe by the dining table, it was nice and clean but small – no escape from two little children….

We had a lovely neighbour downstairs who had a little boy my sons age, she always offered for them to pop down so I could do some chores around the flat on a Saturday. She was very sweet, watched us Monday to Friday rally in and out and watched me in the winter nights carry my shopping bags up the stairs followed by one child, running back down to carry the other. It would take me 3-4 trips and up and down to get us all tucked in. You forget how useful an extra pair of hands are when you have two children sleeping and your flat isn’t on the ground floor!
Life was busy, I was still working and taking on more responsbibility. My self confidence had grown knowing that I was doing this whole single mum thing OK. I wasn’t looking for anything more in our life – we were pretty maxed out with routine and general life pressures that all families have. It was at this point when I met ‘the man’, the guy that was at a kids party and whilst looking to see whose his wife was had been told ‘he’s just a friend of the family, he’s single! Nothing transpired until a year later (better late than never) I received a message, something along the lines of, ‘We met a while ago at X’s party – how are you?’

We were dating, it was fun and gave me a kick back into life. It was a healthy time for ME, and sometimes it’s ok to do things for yourself. Sometimes it’s good to feel sassy and enjoy someone’s company other than your children’s. After all, it made me a happier woman and happy mums are happy kids!! London? We moved, that OCD organised, clean shoed woman with her two kids moved, onto a farm!! Life is calmer now, somewhat complete. I was happy on my own but who can’t deny that wonderful feeling of talking to an adult in the evening and having someone else to help with bath time! The children go to a beautiful village school, they leave bags of carrots in the playground for the kids to snack on during play and our local church is identical to the one in Vicar of Dibley! We are still dating and now planning our wedding! He’s a lovely man who is a great father and role model to the children. How lucky we are!

Its a tricky part of single mum life when you meet someone that you feel can be introduced to your ‘team’ (my kids) as not just mummy’s friend. We just had to roll with it and trust it with everything we had.
Slowly you learn to adapt as a family, hand over responsibilities and accept that this is ‘ok’. There’s always the bumpy road of ‘darling you can’t say that’ or ‘sorry the kids have kept you awake for a week, welcome to parenting’.
Advice? Nothing at all, just bounce like a ping pong ball until you find your feet. It’s also ok to cry, it doesn’t mean you failed.

A Superhero Has My Back!

This week has been an emotional roller coaster for both Stanley and myself and with this in mind, I thought it was apt for me to introduce you to the children’s brand Scamp and Dude.

Jo Tutchener-Sharp felt inspired to create a brand that helps children feel more secure when they are apart from their loved ones, after undergoing brain surgery which meant that she had to leave her children during her lengthy stay in hospital. Like any mother or parent, being away from your children can be heart wrenching and for Jo this was even more so because her surgery was life threatening. Jo began thinking about the many families in the world going through a similarly hard detachment and felt compelled to help ease the pain of loss or absence by coming up with a collection that provides children with a superhero confidence! We all think of superhero’s as valiant beings, tough, strong, with superpowers, taking on everything and anything- and from this idea Scamp and Dude was born.

Like so many parents at this time of year, I’ve been settling Stanley into Nursery this week. Each morning bringing its own new battles and emotions. Two days in and the reality sunk in and watching mummy walk out the door has been heartbreaking for him. The sadness in his eyes is enough for me to break down and that I’ve done too! Once I’ve left the building the tears start and I become a whimpering blotchy-faced mess (so glad I’ve not bumped into anyone I know!). As a mummy and Stan’s best friend (probably second to Harry), until now we’ve pretty much been inseparable (see previous post here) and I’ve not left him with anyone other than granny and grandad. I knew this transition would be a tough one, but what I wasn’t envisaging was his little face and the fear in his eyes when I say goodbye. That image won’t leave me. The nursery have been wonderful at allowing him to have his dummy and blanky at hand if he is too sad. I think it’s been important for him to have some kind of comforter in my absence… After all, he’s only 2!

This idea of a comforter is at the heart of Jo’s brand too. With a background in PR, having worked with some of the biggest names in the Fashion and Beauty industry, it seemed only right that she could utilise her enviable list of contacts to help launch her venture. Scamp and Dude is a unisex collection of clothing, accessories and interiors aimed at providing that extra sense of security for children who are struggling to deal with a parent suffering from serious illness, or similarly an absence. In addition to this, it still stands as a beautiful collection for all children who strive to have superpowers!!

All hail the Superhero Sleep Buddy! A cuddly squishy dinosaur or bunny shaped cushion designed to oooooze superpowers and keep your child safe at night. What’s even more awesome is that every one that is sold, Scamp and Dude donate one to the two children’s charities that they work very closely with. ‘Don’t Forget The Kids‘ is a fabulous charity that work with children whose parents have cancer or have sadly passed away. The second charity being a certain very famous children’s hospital, in London. These sleep buddy cushions have a great design feature being a little pocket for which you can keep a photograph in of your loved one…a small but simple gesture to hold them close and tight.

The Scamp and Dude clothing range is adorned with bold prints and very stylish motifs. You’ll get to learn about the four superhero characters: the BRAVE dinosaur, the bunny with ATTITUDE, the TOUGH balloon man and the FORCE that is cat girl. It’s a comfortable collection of separates from leggings, casual tops, and T’shirts to sweaters with a very important message written on the collar ‘A Superhero has my back’. A gentle addition and reminder that their superhero is their protector and watching over them. For the women in these children’s lives, two beautifully designed sweatshirts with the slogan ‘Someone’s Superhero’ on the collar, ties these items together perfectly. Reminding us mummy’s, granny’s, sisters, friends, that we are all a superhero to somebody…whether we know it or not.

Also on offer is the Kiss Catching Wall Sticker, for your child’s bedroom. Designed to magically catch and store all of your kisses and love from your favourite people! Whether it’s a cushion, wall motif or fashionable force-to-be-reckoned-with outfit, this new collection of items have the ability to expand our imaginations, venture into a world of superpowers and feel whole, comforted and most importantly protected. Guarded from fear, anxiety, sadness and loss. No child should suffer silently or alone. This cleverly created brand, born from Jo’s own personal experience will no doubt fill children with security forevermore.

SPECIALFEATURES to look out for:

SuperheroButton: Each item of clothing has a superpower infused neon pink bolt embroidered on the sleeve or hip. This special lightening bolt acts as a button to press to activate their superpower.

Printonback: ‘A Superhero Has My Back’ is printed on the back of all the tops in the collection.

SwingTags: Swing tags detail all of the potential superpowers that are available to the child (via the superpower button). Powers such as ‘Fairy finder, Bunny whisperer, crazy cool shape shifter, dinosaur stomper’ etc.

Innerneckdetail: The inside neck has a special stitching detail reading ‘A Superhero Has My Back

Nothing’s more exciting than going for your baby scan when you’re pregnant..not least when it’s your first child. That feeling of nerves and butterflies in your tummy knowing you get to see that mini human growing inside of you! Let’s face it, none of us are that naïve that we don’t ever have those thoughts of ‘what if something’s wrong’, however at the same time nothing can quite prepare you.

When we were pregnant with our first son Harry, both my husband and I thought we were having a girl. So when it was time to find out the sex (I’m too impatient to wait a whole 9mths!), the news of a boy threw us off course slightly. So with that immediate adjustment of us now knowing our baby was a boy, the midwife then announced that she was trying to ‘locate’ his feet. Hang on a minute, what does that mean?

‘Have you heard of Talipes?’ To which we both said no. Then she said ‘have you heard of club foot?’ (instant images of Forest Gump enter our heads).. What is she talking about? So it was explained to us that after ‘locating’ his feet on the scan it was apparent that they were at wrong angles to how they should be growing. Both feet were facing inward rather than out. Looking over at my husband we both got upset. A million questions entering our heads.. Was he going to walk? What does this mean? She left us alone for 5 minutes so we could adjust to the news. I had a big cry, Tye had a little tear but most of all looked pale as a ghost. My instant feelings were I needed to protect my husband’s feelings: this is too much for him, how will he cope? When will he freak out? Will our marriage survive this pressure?

The midwife re-appeared and further explained to us that Harry had Bi Talipes (meaning both feet were affected). She talked to us about the Ponsetti method that is put in place once he is born. Consisting of plaster casts, orthopaedic boots and regular hospital check-ups. ‘Don’t go home and look at the Internet images’ she told us. Are you serious? OBVIOUSLY that’s exactly what we’re going to do!!! And do it we did.

First things first, having got round the idea that our first-born, our precious boy was going to have special feet, and knowing what the treatment would involve, we had to be conscious of what we could buy. No baby grows with feet. Poppers up the legs on everything and no ‘pram’ shoes.

Harry was born in May 2009 on a very sunny hot day. He was born by cesarean section and swaddled instantly. It wasn’t until we were wheeled out of theatre and about 20 minutes later that we realised we hadn’t seen his feet yet! And how super cute were his little turned in feet. So teeny and delicate, nothing seemed to matter. This was our new baby with special feet and he was just perfect.

The next couple of weeks consisted of Visits back to the hospital. To start with he needed his tendons cut on his heels, a procedure that involved just a local anaesthetic and lots of tears, him and me! Then he was prep’d for plaster casts moulded onto both of his legs from his groin down. These had to be worn for 6 weeks getting new casts fitted every Monday and his feet manipulated into the correct position each time. Monday’s came round so fast. We got into the swing of it but nonetheless it was pretty stressful. On arrival of each appointment, we would soak him in a baby bath while his nurse broke/ cut off the casts. He wasn’t best pleased at this, so tears were always expected! Once dried and cuddled, drinking some milk for soothing, his legs were ready for new casts to be put on.

People often stopped us in the street to ask us what was wrong with his legs. Many thinking it was his hips and not heard of Talipes before. During these 6 weeks we had to simply hand wash him as he couldn’t get his casts wet. Snuggling him in your arms was tricky to begin with because his legs were bulky but became totally easy after a while. I think friends and family found that harder to be honest! Because Harry couldn’t bring his knees up to wriggle out his wind, he was often quite uncomfortable. That was probably the hardest thing. Knowing he wasn’t able to lift his legs to help himself. Once the 6 weeks of casting were up he was fitted with his first orthopaedic ‘boots and bar’. Special buckle up shoes with a metal bar adjoined at the heels, the width of his shoulders. No, nothing like Forest Gump…things have moved on! His first pair of boots had to be worn 23hours a day for 3mths. Bless him, this was hard for us. Handling him, burping him etc. That one hour a day was liberating, for him and us! Seeing him stretch his legs and not be restricted. Because of the casts and now shoes, he remained on his back while he slept, and couldn’t move too much when he was laying down to play on his play mat. Subsequently having a slightly flat head at the back- but to be honest that was the least of our problems. With regular hospital appointments Harry was becoming more and more familiar with the routine.

The boots and bar kind of act as a retainer, like you might wear a brace retainer to keep your teeth inline. This works in the same way. We were always told that often children born with Talipes, need to continue with the Ponsetti method of treatment until they are 5years old. Since he was about 4mths old, he’s worn them every night in bed, having 6 monthly check ups, going up in sizes with his ever-growing feet!! We kept his very first pair, which are teeny tiny. Today his are massive! However he NEVER complains about wearing them-even though he can’t quite turn over in bed, or ‘kick off’ his duvet like the rest of us! When Harry hit his 5th birthday last May, we were hopeful it was the end of his ‘magic shoes’ (that’s what we’ve always called them), but despite his feet looking INCREDIBLY NORMAL and he can run like the wind like everyone else his age, they want us to continue for a bit longer.

To look at his feet, you would never know he was born with a disability. His calves are pretty skinny, but that’s due to the casting he endured as a baby. His tummy muscles are intensely strong because of the weight of the magic shoes and bar. He walked, ran, jumped etc all at the exact same time as his peers and has never been held back. He’s never asked about ‘other children’ wearing magic shoes too. The one biggest hurdle we’ve faced over the more recent years is ‘dry nights’. We don’t have them! Harry is 6years old in 2 weeks time and still wears nappies in bed. Because of his magic shoes, getting himself un-strapped, to the toilet and strapped back into them in the middle of the night is near enough impossible. So we’ve never put the pressure on him to do such a thing. He knows it’s not forever, and he’s fine with it.

We’ve promised him that when he’s finished with his magic shoes and no longer needs to wear them at night, we’re going to throw a super big party! … After all, he’s a superstar!